Frontiers"Top 5 Cutting Edge Technologies Currently Under Research At
MIT Which Could Impact The World in a Large Way"
17 September 2002
Joost [email protected]
617.930.0415
My Five Favorite MIT
5 Strategic MIT Technology Thrusts
1. Information Technologies = Ever more sophisticated computation & communication, leveraging mind & media.
2. Biomedical Technologies = Medical engineering, perfecting the health & life sciences.
3. Tiny Technologies = Investigating and fabricating ever smaller systems, at scales from micro thru nano
4. Complex Systems = Large scale, socio-political & econo-technological systems.
5. Developmental Innovations = Appropriate and leapfrog technologies for tackling challenges in developing & emerging regions
MIT Technology Biz Matrix1. Info
2. Bio
3. Tiny
4.Cmplex Systems
5. Devel-opmental
MIT Research
LCS/AI, Media, 6
HST, BEH, 7
MTL, 3, 5, 6, 8, 16
SDM, Aero, 6, 15, 14, 13
Digital Nations, 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11
Sloan Research
eBiz, Mkting
POPI, ? ? System Dynamics, Tech Strat
Econ, Global Entrepreneurship
SloanCourses
ITBT, eBiz
Bio-venture
TES SysDyn, Strat, OR,
Global E-lab, DE
SloanExtracur
Media-Tech
Health-Tech
TinyTech OR, SDK12, etc
SEID
MIT Alum Startups
Akamai, DirectHit
Amgen,BiogenGen’tec
Surface, eink, Angstr’m
HP, Raytheon, Teradyne
AfricaOnline, Evergreen Solarhttp://web.media.mit.edu/~jpbonsen/MIT-Emerging-Technology-Matrix.htm
1. Information Technologies
• Computation• Communication• Intelligence• Automation• Encryption• Media
Source: Donna Coveney, MIT / Cynthia Breazeal
SensAble TechnologiesChan LIDS
NASAa.k.a Software
http://www.caida.org/
Pervasive Computing
within IT…
Project Oxygen
• Human Centered Computing
• Acer, Delta, HP, NTT, Nokia, Philips, darpa
http://oxygen.lcs.mit.edu/
MIT Media Lab Wearables
http://www.media.mit.edu/wearables/mithril/index.html
http://www.media.mit.edu/wearables/wearfolk-sam-big.jpg
Media Lab Smart Nametags
http://web.media.mit.edu/~fredm/projects/memetag/mtsmall.jpg
http://el.www.media.mit.edu/groups/el/papers/mres/lifelongk/Image26.gif
http://www.microopticalcorp.com/
Pervasive Implications
• Immersive Info – Remembrance agents, face reminders, seamless PDAs
• Premier Digital Infospace – Next generation libraries, info databases & visualization environments
• Evocative Architectural Innovations – Digital Glass, Organic HVAC controls
http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/a/wireless/2001/06/08/xircom_review.html
http://www.emperorlinux.com/acc_network.html
http://www.handspring.com/http://www.futurelooks.com/features/Lifestyle/Wearable_comps/page1_frame.htm
http://www-5.ibm.com/se/news/archive/images/computers/wearable-pc/wearable-pc-closseup-guy.jpg
2. Biomedical Technologies
• Applied Biology, Biotechnology
• Diagnostics, imaging
• Therapeutics, pharmaceuticals
• Invasive or Non-Invasive Devices
• InstrumentationSource: John Santini
http://gn.www.media.mit.edu/resenv/telemed/http://www.media.mit.edu/nanoscale/research/sensors.html
a.k.a Wetware
Neurotechnology
within BioMedical…
Brain & Cognitive Sciences;Increasingly,
Neurotechnology
McGovern Institute for Brain ResearchMartinos Imaging Center
Picower Center for Learning & MemoryBCS Department
RLE, AI Lab…Patrick McGovern & Lore Harp McGovern
http://idg.com/www/docs.nsf/docs/McGoverns?OpenDocument®ion=WW
Neurodiagnostic Imaging & Probes
http://rabi.nmr.mgh.harvard.edu/~adunn/speckle/index.html http://www.nmr.mgh.harvard.edu/
Decision, Emotion, Addiction, & Habit Analysis
http://lfe.mit.edu/media/snow04-08-02.htm
Psychophysiology of Real-time Trading
http://web.mit.edu/alo/www/Papers/repin.pdf
http://affect.media.mit.edu/AC_research/images/AC_system_sketch2.jpg
Affective Computing
Artificial Senses
http://rleweb.mit.edu/graphics/oculimp.jpg
http://rleweb.mit.edu/graphics/ph97-71a.jpg
http://rleweb.mit.edu/Publications/currents/9-2cov.htm
Retina
Cochlea
Nerve Regeneration
http://web.mit.edu/bcs/brainlunch/schedule/schneider.gif
Neurons grown on Peptide Scaffold
http://web.mit.edu/lms/www/images/shuguang.jpg
3. Tiny Technologies
• MicroPhotonics• Materials: smart,
active, living, rugged• MEMS: micro-electro-
mechanical• NEMS:
nanotechnology, NanoStructures
• NanoMedia• Quantum Dots,
Computing• Fabrication techniques
http://amsl.mit.edu/research/projects.gif
Joe Jacobson
Lieber Science 289: 94-97
Montemagno Group
Kerrebrock Group
a.k.a Hardware
Nanobiotechnology
within TinyTech…
Simple molecules<1nm
IBM PowerPC 750TM Microprocessor
7.56mm×8.799mm6.35×106 transistors
semiconductor nanocrystal (CdSe)5nm
10-10 10-510-9 10-7 10-610-8 10-4 10-3 10-2
m
Circuit designCopper wiringwidth 0.2m
red blood cell~5 m (SEM)
DNAproteins nm
bacteria1 m
Nanometer memory element(Lieber)1012 bits/cm2 (1Tbit/cm2)
Engineering at Different Scales: Dimensions in Silicon and in Biology
SOI transistorwidth 0.12m
Source: Molecular Machines (Jacobson) Group
diatom30 m
ActiveMaterials
Source: http://amsl.mit.edu/
research/projects.gif
Prostheses&
Exo-Skeletons
http://www.discover.com/images/apr01_ft1.jpg http://www.technologyreview.com/articles/images/prototype11201.jpg
Drawing Inspiration & More from Biology
• Ribosomes• Flagellar
Motors• Muscles• …
http://www2.physics.ox.ac.uk/biophysics/Intro.html
http://www.rae.org/revev6.htmlhttp://www.rcsb.org/pdb/molecules/pdb10_1.html
http://www.ai.mit.edu/people/tk/ce/flagella-s.gif
http://gened.emc.maricopa.edu/bio/bio181/BIOBK/BioBookAnimalTS.html
http://www.kapili.com/f/art/filament1.gif
Institute for Soldier
Nanotechnology
Thomas
• Protective Suits
• Human Augmentation
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Jun2001/200105153a.jpg
What Might the Future Soldier Wear?
http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/nr/2002/isn.html
http://www.horizoncomics.com/radix/
“It looks a lot likeScience Fiction!”
-- MIT Student & Comic Book Fan
Protective Suits,Living Suits
http://www.eig.net/level%20one/technical.html
http://www.cnn.com/2000/TECH/space/07/14/contaminated.spacesuit.02/nasa.spacesuit.jpg
http://www.robots.org/images/exoskeleton-4.jpghttp://web.mit.edu/jblaya/www/project/seireg1.jpg
Life-LikeAutomata
http://www.ai.mit.edu/projects/humanoid-robotics-group/cog/current-projects.html
http://www.ai.mit.edu/projects/living-machines/projects/self-feeding.shtml
http://www.ai.mit.edu/people/tk/ce/microbial-engineering.html
http://web.mit.edu/biophysics/movies/vort2.AVI
CellularRobotics
4. Complex Systems
• Environmental
• Big Systems: space, air traffic, 777, power grid, internet
• Social: Organizational, entrepreneurial, business, cultural
a.k.a. Messyware
http://www.nasm.si.edu/apollo/FIGURES/Fig42a.jpg
Sociotechnology
within Complex Systems…
Sensing, Modeling & Understanding Social
Systems…• Supply Chains• Business Cycles• Economies• Urban Dynamics• World Dynamics
…Enough to Improve their Dynamics!
Social Net Analysis & Facilitation
• Understanding social relationshiops
• Guiding flows of information
• Real knowledge management
• Orchestrating Serendipity
http://www.netvis.org/
FacilitatorRoom
Dynamic Visualization
http://whitechapel.media.mit.edu/facilitator/introduction.html
Predictive Microcosms
http://www.cothink.com/Papers/phdthesis.pdf
Supply Chain Volatility Amplification:“The Bullwhip Effect”
Customer Retailer Distributor Factory Tier 1 Supplier
Information lagsDelivery lagsOver- and underorderingMisperceptions of feedbackLumpiness in orderingChain accumulations
SOLUTIONS:Countercyclical MarketsCountercyclical TechnologiesCollaborative channel mgmt. (Cincinnati Milacron & Boeing)
Equipment
Source: Fine, MIT
Management “Flight Simulators”
http://web.mit.edu/jsterman/www/SDG/beergame.html
http://www.gamespot.com/features/maxis/screens/wright.jpg
http://www.glasswings.com.au/reviews/simcity2.jpg
“Beer Game”
UrbanDynamics
Moore’s Law
1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010103
104
105
106
107
108
109
Transistors per chip
Year
80786PentiumPro
Pentium80486
8038680286
8086
80804004
?
Source: Joel Birnbaum, HP, Lecture at APS Centennial, Atlanta, 1999
Source: Fine, MIT
101 100 10-1102
104
106
108
Number of chip components
Feature size (microns)
1010
1012
1018
1014
1016
10-2 10-3
Classical Age
Historical Trend
SIA Roadmap2010
CMOS
19952000
2005
1970
1980
1990
Roadmap for Electronic Devices
4oK
Quantum Age
77oK
295oK
Quantum State Switch
Horst D. SimonSource: Fine, MIT
Components of MIT’s Interwoven Technology
Roadmapping Effort1. Business cycle dynamics (e.g., systems dynamics-
like models of the bullwhip effect)2. Industry structure dynamics (e.g., rigorous version
of the double helix in Fine’s Clockspeed book)3. Corporate strategy dynamics (e.g., dynamicize
Porter-like analyses for players in the value chain)4. Technology dynamics (e.g., the Semiconductor
Industry Association's roadmap built around Moore's law)
5. Regulatory Policy Dynamics (e.g. Cross-National, Cross Sector
Source: Fine, MIT
Performance inOrganizations
http://web.mit.edu/nelsonr/www/NobodyEverV2_0-sub_doc.pdf
5. Developmental Innovations
• Development Technologies
• MicroFinance• Developmental
Entrepreneurship• Sensible Policy
Ravi Kuchimanchi, AID-India
http://www.thinkcycle.org
Murcott Group, Civil Engineering http://www.thinkcycle.org
Evergreen Solar
http://www.simputer.org/
a.k.a Everywhere
Exponential Technologies
within Development…
Exponential Technologies
Hi-Leverage & Transformative
e.g. Portable Computers for the people
e.g. Cellphones per village
e.g. Intellectual capital development via school or innovator network system
e.g. Financial & Legal infrastructure
ExponentiallyGrowing,
Accelerating;
LeapfrogQuality
Two Dimensions
PERFORMANCE
• Functionality goes exponential for a given amount of money
• Price plummets exponentially for a given amount of functionality or performance
• PENETRATION
• Diffusion is exponential and fast, possibly viral
Infocom: Webios
• Web analog to transistor radio
• Simputer http://www.simputer.org/http://www.picopeta.com/
http://history.acusd.edu/gen/recording/transistor.htmlhttp://www.lanka.net/lakehouse/2001/06/03/fea10.htmlhttp://www.media.mit.edu/windup/
Infocom: Universal Translator
• Reduce misunderstandings
• Increase flow of trade
• Teaching tool
http://www.zdnet.com/computershopper/edit/cshopper/content/9806/309164.htmlhttp://www.via-pc.com/
Infocom: Printed Electronics
• Printed PCs?• Printed PDAs?• Electronic Ink
applications
Jacobson Group, Media Lab
Nishi Group, Media Lab
http://www.media.mit.edu/molecular/projects.htmlhttp://www.eink.com/
Eink, Media Lab Spinoff
Health: Penny Diagnostics
• Disease• Contamination• Analogous to pH or
Litmus paper• Telediagnostics
http://gn.www.media.mit.edu/resenv/telemed/http://www.media.mit.edu/nanoscale/research/sensors.html
Finance: MicroCredit, MicroFinance, MicroVC
• Credit = loans and lines of credit, debt
• Finance = more general financial services
• VC = risk capital, equity
• Monetizing Social Capital
http://www.accion.org/main.asphttp://www.endeavor.org/http://www.grameen.org http://www.uncdf.org/sum/…
Education: OpenSource Ideation & Training
e.g.OpenCourseWare / Distance Learning
• Bringing MIT to the world instead of the world to MIT
• Generalizing• Talent
identification
http://web.mit.edu/afs/athena/org/o/ocw/
Richly Interwoven MIT Themes
2. BioTech 3. TinyTech
1. InfoTech
4. Complex Systems
5. Developmental Innovations
Fin